The 60-year-old swimming pool at Eleanor B. Garfield Park will soon be home to a new splash pad feature.
Originally constructed in the early 1960s, the pool has served generations of Mentor residents. It was closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained closed since due to an ongoing lifeguard shortage.
Recently, the city hired a nationally renowned consulting firm to help determine what it would take to bring the aging facility up to modern standards as well as offer potential alternatives that would best serve our community.
A thorough assessment of the pool was conducted, and a number of structural and performance deficiencies were identified. After careful deliberation, Mentor City Council and Administration made the decision to pursue a splash-pad concept instead of renovating the pool.
Prior to its closure, attendance at Garfield Pool had dropped to historically low levels. Attendance at all city pools has dropped significantly following the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal at Garfield is to offer an improved and unique experience without duplicating what already exists in the city. In addition, a splash pad requires less staffing and enables the facility to remain open regardless of lifeguard availability.
The pool and surrounding structures at Eleanor B. Garfield Park will be removed this year. Concepts for a new splash pad project will be considered this year with the intent of entering into a design contract. Construction is expected to begin by 2025.
Eleanor B. Garfield Park is located at 7967 Mentor Avenue.